Zika Virus Disease

When people think of the word ‘epidemic’, they generally imagine a widespread disease that threatens humanity as a whole. While most of the hysteria associated with pandemics stem purely from fiction, it can be understandable why people always fear the worst. That is why when an outbreak of the Zika Virus was reported in the United States, an overall feeling of malaise set in. As of September 21, 2016, a total of 3,358 cases of the Zika Virus have been reported (“Center for Disease Control and Prevention”). Though the numbers are alarming, there is no need for a national quarantine or emergency evacuation. In reality, the Zika Virus is not as intimidating as society puts it out to be. The panic and confusion associated with

“This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly”( Tom Frieden). Microcephaly is an abnormal smallness of the head, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development. With the Olympics being held in Brazil, there is much cause to attention the potential disease being brought back to the U.S. by female athletes bringing an epidemic to carry havoc on the citizens of the United States. It can be spread very easily through mosquito bites of the yellow fever mosquito. From the mosquitoes, the virus does not cause many symptoms to its victims generating unknown awareness of the virus. “ Only one in five people who become infected with Zika virus will feel sick. Symptoms of Zika virus infection include fever, rash, pink eye, pains in joints, pain behind the eyes, headache, and muscle pains”( Levison, Matthew). The symptoms, if any, last 4-7 days in most cases. The Zika Virus is an easily spread disease with few symptoms.

The Zika virus is actually not as new as you might think. It was discovered 70 years ago, but a suspected link between the virus and microcephaly (small head size) in newborns whose mothers had Zika, came to light just recently. What once was a suspected link has been confirmed by the CDC.

So what is this Zika virus anyway? It actually isn’t too bad to the average human. It just causes flu-like symptoms, a rash, muscle and joint pains. The symptoms are usually pretty mild, and sometimes there aren’t even symptoms at all. It doesn’t require you to be hospitalized, and it’s usually over after a week. The scary and threatening thing about it is, if a pregnant

Zika Virus is a disease a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in the monkeys through a network that monitored yellow fever. It was later noticed in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. There has also been other recording of the Zika Virus in Africa, the United States, Asia and the Pacific. From the 1960 's to the 1980 's, human infections were only found in Asia and Africa until here recently and now there are reporting’s of the Zika Virus in the United States. As of October , 2016 there are 105 locally acquired cases in the United

Sifferlin states, “First discovered in Uganda's Zika forest in 1947” (Sifferlin). With that being said it does not seem as if the government is doing much research into what to do about the spreading virus. Sifferlin states, “Even now, many people who get infected will never know it, and if they start showing signs of infection, such as a rash, red eyes, fever or joint pain, doctors have little to offer other than advice to stay hydrated or take Tylenol as needed” (Sifferlin). Due to the fact that the virus can be spread sexually, if one has visited any place where Zika Virus is present, it is extremely important to get tested to avoid spread of the virus to others. However, the tests take weeks for results and are not covered by most

First, people can make sure to use a personal protection if choosing to engage in sexual intercourse (Fiorentino). Along with protection, general abstinence sexual intercourse during the pregnancy is the greatest option to avoid birth defects (Fiorentino). However, sexual infection can also occur in areas other than South America from infected males traveling from South America. Therefore, abstinence is advised for 6 months if a man was proven to have the Zika infection or “8 weeks if a man traveled to an area with active viral transmission” (Fiorentino). Simply by avoiding having sexual intercourse, couples can greatly reduce the likelihood of birth defects due to an infected mother. However, other measures have to be taken to slow the disease

The Zika virus is a deadly disease that is transmitted through mosquitoes, once the mosquito bites someone, it automatically injects the disease in the person’s blood. The Zika virus has been around since 1947, it was first discovered in a forest called Zika in Uganda. Over the years, the Zika virus poses a severe threat on million people who are polluted with the Zika virus in Brazil. In addition, The CDC confirmed that the United States has more than 50 cases of people who are contaminated with the Zika virus. These people are United States’ travelers who travel to Latin America and the Caribbean. Welch said, in one of these cases, there is a person who transmits the Zika virus to his/her partner through sexual intercourse. As a result, scientists advise people to abstain from sexual activities when the Zika symptom appears. It is also advised that pregnant should abstain from sex during this time. They can resume to their normal activities after all examinations are concluded. Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico,

Sheila: Zika fever was first discovered in 1947 as an infection of rhesus monkeys in Uganda. From animals, aedes mosquitoes then transmitted the disease to humans.

In the United States, there were 2,517 cases of Zika virus by August of 2016. An estimated 29 of these cases were acquired by mosquitoes in the United States. A total of 2,487 cases were from traveling outside of the country. In addition, 22 cases were from sexual partners spreading the virus. A single case was caused by a laboratory-acquired cause. Out of these cases, seven people have developed Guillain-Barré syndrome. Currently, it is too early to tell how many babies will be born with birth defects like microcephaly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), or the CDC as it is commonly called), the most common symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash and joint pain with about one in five people becoming ill once infected. It is primarily transferred through a mosquito bite. This appears to be a common virus that many have probably had unknowingly at some point in their life (Musso & Cao-Lormeau, 2014). However, what is now concerning pregnant

The Zika virus has been discovered all around the world. The Zika virus is a disease that is spreading through mosquitos. The virus is continuing being spread around the world. Traveling from one place to another getting bite my mosquitos then those mosquitos biting other people.

The zika virus was discovered in 1947 but the first actual human case was detected in 1952. Since that case was detected there have been outbreaks from tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands reported. Before 2007 at least 14 cases have been documented and zika outbreaks could have probably occurred in many different locations which could have been failed to be reported. This is because the symptoms are like other diseases. Zika is transmitted mostly through a mosquito bite, it can be transmitted to a fetus from a pregnant woman, through sexual intercourse, and it hasn’t been confirmed yet but it is very likely that it can be transmitted through a blood transfusion. Zika does not have a vaccine to prevent it, but since it is transmitted mostly through a mosquito bite the best way to prevent it would be to make sure you and your family members are protected from mosquito bites. Wearing long sleeves and long pants sprayed with insect repellent could help, make sure that the insect repellent contains at least one of the following ingredients DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-methane-diol, or 2-undecanone and make

Most victims of zika won’t even know they have the disease because there are sometimes little to no symptoms. For the people who do have symptoms the most common ones are fever, rash, joint pains, or red eyes. These symptoms usually don’t get serious enough for the person to have to go to the hospital this is another reason why people still may not realize that they have contracted the virus. The virus can remain in a person’s blood for almost a week or even longer in some victims. A hefty issue of this virus is that there is no medicine or vaccine to prevent one from getting it. According to the cdc, a person can lower the risk of getting the virus by getting a lot of rest, always drink fluids so dehydration won’t be a factor, and take medicine

We all remember back in 2015 when the Zika outbreak in Brazil made the front covers of newspapers and the headlines of news channels around the world. While the dangers of contracting Zika continue to be on the rise, many still fail to see how this disease can devastatingly affect a fetus. Permanent damage such as empty spaces in the brain, cataracts, congenital deafness, and underdeveloped brains are just some possible outcomes.